The Lemon Index
2013
20153rd generation (F56)
30 owner complaints, first 3 years 27–33 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2014 Toyota Yaris2014 Nissan Versa 992014 Hyundai Accent 14
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 4,600 and 10,000 miles (7,400–16,000 km) (the middle half of the 26 complaints, of all 30 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K, 100K and 150K miles (97K, 161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 15V739000 (seats), 15V628000 (airbags) and 15V450000 (body structure) done? It has 7 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Mini sent dealers 460 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “There is a delivery stop/service action”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Mini's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 30 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 4K to 10K miles (7K to 16K km) on the car (26 of all 30 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
When accelerating with transmission in first gear from a stop it will on occasion jump out of gear causing a loss of power to the driving wheels. Car has a six speed manual transmission.
2014 Mini Cooper owner · NHTSA complaint 10706147
More owner reports
Vehicle lost all oil supposedly due to a faulty oil filter housing car stopped and was smoking.
NHTSA complaint 10679062
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 38.7M views · 2014–2024 Mini Cooper
Most-watched topics
- Gauges, lights & wiring485K views
How To Reset Oil Life On 2014 - 2021 Mini Cooper - Clear Service Due Light After Oil ChangePYR Automotive · 147K views · 4 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical238K views
How To Unlock, Open & Start 2014 - 2021 Mini Cooper With Dead Remote Key Fob BatteryPYR Automotive · 129K views · 2 videos - Oil changes & service158K views
How To Reset Oil Life On 2014 - 2021 Mini Cooper / maintenance reminder resetOil Light Reset · 95K views · 2 videos - Transmission & shifter76K views
HOW TO: Replace Shifter Solenoid/Assembly on 2014-2019 Mini Cooper F-ChassisGavin · 76K views
Before you buy, watch
THE MINI (F55/F56/3rd gen) BUYERS GUIDE | AVOID THIS CAR until you watch this!Scottish Car Clan · 243K views
Should You Buy a MINI COOPER S D? (Test Drive & Review F56)High Peak Autos · 160K views
MINI Cooper SE / Electric (F56): 5 ANNOYING PROBLEMS After Half a Year of OwnershipMartin Karel · 69K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2014 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Mini told dealers about
Mini sent dealers 460 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- There is a delivery stop/service action
- Some vehicles have turbocharger noise and a lack or loss of performance, due to restriction
- Between speeds of 5mph and 30mph, on rough road surfaces and high temperatures, a noise, like
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 7
- Seats · recall issued 2015
During a service appointment, the affected vehicles received replacement front passenger seat cushions (which contain integral Capacitive Interior Sensing (CIS).
- Airbags · recall issued 2015
Due to a manufacturing error, the passenger frontal air bag may not deploy properly in a low speed crash.
- Body structure · recall issued 2015
The affected vehicles do not meet the side impact performance requirements for the rear seat passengers.
Show all 7 recalls
- Equipment · recall issued 2015
The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with an incorrect maximum capacity weight stated on the Tire Information Placard.
- Transmission & drivetrain · recall issued 2014
During service appointments, dealers may have inadvertently reprogrammed the transmission control unit with software that may allow drivers to exit the vehicle when the transmission is not in Park.
- Tires · recall issued 2014
The spare wheel may have been attached under the car with a nut that is not self-locking.
- Airbags · recall issued 2014
The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with an air bag inflator that was not assembled correctly.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- ClosedInternational autos, inc. / mini recall2015–2016
- ClosedBmw safety act violations2015–2017
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Cooper Clubman SW FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Mini Cooper Countryman 5 HB FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,300–$2,800 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 1.5L 3-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl.
Every Mini Cooper year. 2014 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 3 older years (2002–2004, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 19 Mini Cooper years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2014 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/mini-cooper/?y=2014" title="Mini Cooper reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="583" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/mini-cooper/2014/">Lemon Index</a> (2014 Mini Cooper reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2014 Mini Cooper reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew about three-quarters as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 72; 100 is average, lower is better). The Mini Cooper year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2013.
What are the most common 2014 Mini Cooper problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (30%), engine (23%) and electrical (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2014 Mini Cooper have?
7 safety recalls (latest: seats). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2014 Mini Cooper get?
27 to 33 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2014 Mini Cooper problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 4,600 and 10,000 miles (7,400–16,000 km) (the middle half of the 26 complaints, of all 30 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2014 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2014 Mini Cooper have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 30% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2014 Mini Cooper cost in fuel a year?
About $2,300 to $2,800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2014 Mini Cooper have?
1.5L 3-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl.
What Mini Cooper year is better than the 2014?
Nearby, the 2017 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about a third as many complaints as the average car). Across every year, 2013 drew the fewest.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works